FEB 30, (28c), singable satire: "UKULELÍ, UKULELÁ", volcanoes and copyright

PARODY-LYRICS

MUSICAL UNDEPINNINGS: "Funiculi, Funicula, a song written by Luigi Denza, in Neapolitan to honour the 1880 opening of the now-defunct funicular railway taking tourists up Mt. Vesuvius.

PARODY COMPOSED: Giorgio Coniglio, February 2013, with initial posting at the online parody-lyrics website "AmIRight". The lyrics have undergone some minor updating since, including a change in song-title from the original 'Anacroni, Anacrona'.  

UKULELE and GUITAR-FRIENDLY LINK: Our whole series of songs can be found in a friendly format for ukulele (and guitar)-players on our sister blog "SILLY SONGS and SATIRE" with chord-charts for both the parody and original song, as well as helpful performing suggestions. 

To find ukulele or guitar chord-charts to help you accompany
"UKULELÍ, UKULELÁ" on your favorite instrument, click HERE. 

EXPLANATION: This mostly-true story has 3 characters - the volcano itself, Vesuvius, which dominates the Bay of Naples, and 2 music composers. Luigi Denza wrote hundreds of songs, mostly in Neapolitan, including this smash hit composed for the opening of the funicular in 1880.  Richard Strauss lived in Munich; after visiting Naples in 1887 as a young man, he incorporated the tune into a symphonic work aus Italien, which was poorly received by critics. Later he became famous for symphonic tone-poems including Thus Spake Zarathustra,  the theme for 2001: A Space Odyssey, and modern operas - der Rosenkavalier, Elektra. 
The fanciful existence of ukuleles in Europe in the 19th century is an anachronism; hence, the song was initially titled Anacroni, Anacrona. 

UKULELÍ, UKULELÁ

(to the tune of "Funiculi, Funicula")

     

 INTRO: ’Ncoppa jammo ja’, ukulelí, ukulelá.

One day, while Strauss was tramming up Vesuvius,
He heard a song, a catchy song.

And as he’d brought along his uke and notebook,

He wrote it down, then strummed along.

He gave the borrowed pencil back to Denza,
With whom he jammed, as up they swayed.

And as the active crater hissed and rumbled,
Strauss missed him mumble, above Pompei.

(Denza sang)……

“ Copy-, copy-, copyright is mine,

Specific terms the sanctioned use define.
While jamming here is gen’rally fine,

While jamming here's not out-of-line,

Legal friends opine, Vesuvius - Sì, but Munich - Nein  ”.

  

Years later, Strauss was brooding back in Deutschland,
He read reviews, scathing reviews.

And found Luigi’s letter on his credenza,

No how-d’ya-do’s, but howled j’accuse.

It fumed, “My sunny, fun-filled tarantella,
While fun to croon, is no folk-tune.

Our case is legally air-tight, feckless fella, 

Piacere, please, pay royalties."

(Denza warned)……

“ Copy-, copy-, copyright is mine,

Specific terms the sanctioned use define.
While playing 'fok-tunes' there was fine,

But steal my property -- I'll whine;

And legal friends opine, Vesuvius - Sì, but Munich - Nein  ”.

One day, if you should hike up on Vesuvius,

(The tram’s no more, - since 'forty-four).

Inspired up there where lava’s been effluvious,

You write a score; but one thing more.

Take care ! - “O Sole”, “Funi” even “Torna”,

They might be groovy, but out of bounds;

When streaming from the steaming hot caldera, 

A rumbling sounds, and then resounds.

(A voice spews outs)……
“ Copy-, copy-, copyright is mine,

Specific terms the sanctioned use define.
While jamming here's not out-of-line,

Even up here on this incline,

Legal friends opine, Vesuvius - Sì, but Munich - Nein  ”.

   Bb                     F             C7           F  

‘Ncoppa jammo ja’, ukulelí, ukulelá.